Shakib Al Hasan returns home; X-ray report to decide his future, say authorities

Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib Al Hasan has returned home following a brief interregnum with his family in the United States. The ace all-rounder has been suffering due to a finger injury for some time and it will be diagnosed once again in a few days. Shakib was picked for the New Zealand tour but he was ruled out of the three-match ODI series and could not play the first Test in which Mahmudullah replaced him as the captain.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Operations Committee chairman Akram Khan had hinted about the availability of the 31-year-old Shakib in the third and final Test match starting in Christchurch on March 16. However, it is yet to be confirmed whether the cricketer could take part in the Test match. The second Test will begin in Wellington on March 8.

Bangladesh were routed by the Black Caps by an innings and 52 runs in the first match in Hamilton. Mahmudullah and Saumya Sarkar slammed hundreds in the second innings after NZ got a lead of almost 500 but yet could not prevent the game from going into the fifth day.

Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu and chief physician Debashish Roy Chowdhury said what lies in the future for Shakib will be determined on the basis of X-ray report. “The condition of his finger will be diagnosed by an X-ray. We will decide Shakib’s fate for the tour after that,” Nannu was quoted by media reports in Dhaka.

Shakib was ruled out of Asia Cup last September as well

Nannu also said that Shakib, who will turn 32 on March 24, told him personally that the pain in his finger has gone down and he is feeling quite well, bdcrictime.com reported. It can be mentioned here that Shakib had to fly back home during the Asia Cup in the UAE last September because of a finger surgery and missed crucial games for his team, including the final against India.

Shakib’s fitness is key for the Bangladeshis if they aspire to do well in the upcoming ICC World Cup.

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